Random coin photos with new Camera
rooksmith
Posts: 1,167 ✭✭✭✭
I bought a Canon Rebel: Canon EOS 2000D / Rebel T7 DSLR Camera w/EF-S 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens + 64GB Memory. I also bought a Macro Tube extender. Up until recently I had just been using my Samsung Galaxy s23 phone, which has a great camera too.
I was just messing around trying to set up a tripod and took a few photos which I am sharing here. Feel free to give me tips if you have a similar camera. I've been experimenting with the ISO and white balance. But a lot seems to depend on my lighting setup.
Anyhow, here are a few of the early photos (with some odd coins that just were sitting around in my drawer.
“When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
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You might want to look at Macrocoins he was very helpful on setting up my camera set up. And it’s coincidental but the T7 is also the 1st camera I bought when I was setting this up way back then. But he sells the camera stand you are seeking. This is my stand hard to see but this was one he sell. http://www.macrocoins.com/home.html
My coin stand in the background is the Foldio 3 portable photo shoot set up. Don’t ask about the bunnies! 😀
There are alot of good Macro lens options for Canon.
I would get a good copy stand.
Don't remember the specs of the Rebel, but that is a perfectly capable camera. Flip screen would be a bonus on a copy stand.
Those two additions will take you to the next level.
Then lighting is a different discussion.
I have shot weddings, sports, and landscape for 20 years. Coins, jewelry and small metal reflective objects like these can be the most frustrating subjects of them all.
There was a guy on here that had a good bellows kit he sold me years ago. Not sure if he is still around, but that was a very good plan B that served me well.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
White balance...
I bought an 8x10 white balance card and use as the backdrop for the coin.
It is quick and easy to do a custom WB before each coin or session
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Yeah -- I need a little practice with the white balance. The two above are both on a white piece of paper, I varied the lighting a bit. I an shooting at ISO 1600, manual focus with a desklamp. Its all trial and error, at this point.
Thanks!
I have trouble with the white balance too.
More of the same pocket change practice.
Those look nice
White piece of paper gets you close enough for WB.
Modern ISO 1600 is pretty clean file, but tells me you are struggling a bit.
Need to add more light from a window or lamp.
Sometimes I use a white sheet of paper to reflect light to coin. Subtle but can give you that extra.
Set to a delay and play with reflecting the light by using a white envelope or paper towards the coin as the seconds to shutter release tick away.
Manual mode and drop shutter speed.
Adding light is cheaper than an f/2.8 lens.
But Macro lens alone would give you the extra light gathering capability vs a kit lens. Also closer focus. Alot of advantages.
Focal length... stay away from 50mm because it will interfere with your lighting because of the need to be so close. Minimum 90 to 100mm is the sweet spot. Above that it is overkill
Hope this helps
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
ISO should be no higher than 100, use a tripod or copy stand. I prefer a tripod. I don't believe I've ever taken a coin photo above 100. F stop at 8+, yours looks a little low. Keeping the coin and lens parallel is critical. I will sometimes push lower to 5.6 for coins I want to maximize detail on, but that is a little risky. White balance should be custom as mentioned above. Lights at 12, 9, and 3.
As mentioned, the Rebel is a good start. I got my start with a Rebel T7i and it was decent, good enough for the majority of uses. I much prefer the higher megapixel range of my current camera though.
This may be common knowledge but in a pinch, the 0.6 lens on your average smart phone will deliver macro lens effects if held within an inch or two.